MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND COMMISSIONER BRUNO ANNOUNCE THAT FIVE-MEMBER OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TEAM WILL ASSIST IN CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE OPERATIONS

FDNY Incident Management Team Has Also Been Activated and Deployed to California

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) Commissioner Joseph F. Bruno announced
today that OEM is sending an experienced five- member emergency management team
to California to assist in wildfire-related operations. The OEM team will join
the New York City Fire Department (FDNY
) members who have already deployed to California. The OEM
delegation, led by Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Preparedness Kelly
McKinney, includes experts in planning, sheltering, project management,
logistics, and human services. The California Office of Emergency Services has
requested assistance in these areas. The team will depart for Sacramento this
afternoon. The Mayor also encouraged New Yorkers who want to help to make
donations to an established charity such as the American Red Cross or the
Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, which will distribute donations to
disaster relief agencies.

“Our hearts go out to all those coping with the
wildfires that have ravaged California, and I’m glad that our Fire and Emergency
Management experts can offer some assistance to California as it deals with this
devastating tragedy,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We will never forget those who came
to our aid after 9/11, and this is one small way we can help repay that
debt.”

“After September 11th, New York City received a helping
hand from every corner of the country,” said Commissioner Bruno. “I am extremely
gratified to offer our assistance to the people of California during their time
of need.”

After a brief orientation at the State of California’s
Emergency Operations Center, the team will be transported to the San Diego area,
where they will work alongside California authorities assisting the hundreds of
thousands of residents who have been evacuated from their homes. The OEM
team will be in California for up to two weeks and will work with the California
Office of Emergency Services to determine what, if any resources may be needed
beyond that time. The cost of the trip will be paid for by the City of New
York.

Five members of the FDNY have been deployed to
California as part of the FDNY Incident Management Team. Three fire officers and
two firefighters will provide support for operations at the Santiago Fire near
San Diego. In addition, nine firefighters who are members of the American Red
Cross Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program have responded as
volunteers, and will work in various capacities as needed under the auspices of
the American Red Cross.

New Yorkers who want to make a donation to support those
affected by the fires can give to an established charity such as the American
Red Cross or through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. Donations to the
Mayor’s Fund can be sent in the form of a check to: Mayor’s Fund to Advance New
York City, c/o City Hall, New York, NY 10007 with a note on the check that the
donation is for “California Fire Relief.” The Mayor’s Fund, established in 1994
to serve as the umbrella not-for-profit organization for the City of New York,
is dedicated to working closely with City agencies to support public programs.
For more information call 311 (212-NEW-YORK).